Adjustable melevator floor

ABSTRACT

The adjustable Melevator floor is a device having parts that are corresponding and reciprocative to complete a one-unit device, having numerous size settings so as to accommodate most conventional patron letter box/compartments: city, curb, street, rural, and cluster; with the express purpose of elevating the contents within said boxes above the interior surface floor of said boxes, thus keeping said contents from direct contact with moisture and water that commonly collects within letter boxes having certain, or in certain circumstances or conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Many patented inventions, such as the following inserts and trays, haveaddressed various aspects of delivery letter boxes: easier delivery to;easier retrieval from; rain hoods during delivery; letter retainers;interior rubber jackets; and security devices. Many of these patentedinventions point out the problem of moisture/water damage that is commonto many such boxes and some have added the benefit of grooves to theinserts and trays that are actually designed for another objective, butnone have directly and singularly addressed the problem of standingwater within patron letter boxes/compartments:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,192 slidable tray-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,385 extendable tray-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,827 sliding tray-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,555 rolling tray-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,501 sliding tray-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,578 slidable tray

One device, reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,096, addresses the water andweather problem but it is designed for and made to fit “blue” boxes,which are large bulk collection mail boxes installed and owned by theU.S. Postal Service, and it is not designed for letter deliverybox/compartments of individual patrons.

My invention does address the water and weather problem that is commonto many letter delivery boxes/compartments of individual persons. Withthe creation of the adjustable Melevator floor and with it beingavailability to the public at large, the state of many suchboxes/compartments can be improved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water and moisture can enter letter delivery and cluster boxes by manyways. For instance: rain can drip in and around screw holes; rain can beblown in around bent, warped, ill-fitting, and non-insulated doors; raincan enter into and then drip from letter pick-up slots; water sprinklerscan spray water in and around both front and back doors; auto trafficcan send sprays of road-water over and under letter boxes.

While some of these problems can be solved by replacing, repairing, ormoving such letter boxes, there are many occasions when none of thesesolutions are readily reached. Furthermore, it is not the infiltratingsprinkle, mist, or droplet form of water that causes most of the damageto paper articles, but rather standing pools of water.

Water will, by nature of surface tension, cling, bead up and stand inpools. While a grooved surface will limit the volume of standing water,drainage is not always the result and absorbent material, such as paper,will draw the moisture into its fibers, thus it is preferable to have adevice that will elevate the material above the floor surface to allowclear drainage paths and to allow ventilation for the evaporation ofwater that doesn't drain. It is also desirable and beneficial for such adevice to be: easily installed; durable and sturdy; unobtrusive as tolimit space; easily labeled; relatively inexpensive; readily availableto the public; and adaptable/adjustable in size.

While basic dimensions for letter boxes are recommended by the USPS,letter delivery boxes are actually manufactured in numerous deliverypoint sizes, both as a single-delivery unit and as a multiple-deliveryunit. The most often decrease in variance from the recommended size ofthe actual space within a delivery letter box/compartment is often moredramatic in the depth or length of the delivery box. The most oftenincrease in variance from the recommended size of the of the actualspace within a given letter delivery box/compartment is more often inthe width of the delivery box.

This background describes circumstances that can be improved upon bycreating a device that will address the circumstances as set forth, asdoes my adjustable Melevator floor.

BRIEF SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable Melevator floor is a three-part device that can beadjusted to a range of lengths while it remains as one unit.

This invention relates to an adjustable floor surface device, and inparticular, to an adjustable floor surface device that allowsventilation between itself and the surface that it is placed on, andmore particular, to an adjustable floor surface device that is sized ina basic proportional width and then having two corresponding sectionsthat can be adjusted in several measured increments so as to elongatethe device, with the purpose being the accommodation and placement,either as a single unit or multiple, within a conventional deliveryletter box, in order that the letter box contents lie on the devicerather than on the interior floor surface of the letter box.

It is desirable that the problem of standing water within a letterdelivery box be addressed. The adjustable Melevator floor addresses theproblem of standing water by providing a second floor over the interiorfloor of the delivery box, in order that the contents within the boxrests on the Melevator floor. This second floor provides a distance ofspace between the said contents and the interior floor that allows poolsof water to reach break-tension point and drain unimpeded andthereafter, this same distance of space allows the remainingwater/moisture to evaporate by ventilation through slots and openings inthe top surface and openings in both the sides and the ends of thedevice.

It is desirable that the variety of various letter box/compartment sizesis recognized and that a near-universal solution be met, so as to bemore economical in both cost of manufacturing and sell price. Theadjustable Melevator floor addresses the problem of the manysizes/dimensions of the varied types of letter boxes/compartments bymeeting the minimum width required for conventional letter boxes whileallowing multiple settings of sizes for length. Therefore, theadjustable Melevator floor, having parts that correspond andreciprocate, has numerous incremental size settings so as to accommodatemost conventional patron letter box/compartments: city, curb, street,rural, cluster, NDCBU.

Furthermore, when two adjustable Melevator floor units are equally sizedand placed side by side, they can accommodate the wider conventionalletter boxes, namely; the large style of rural mailboxes and the wideCBU letter box/compartments.

This invention, having two main objectives: 1. to provide an area ofspace between the letter/mail contents of letter box/compartments andthe interior floor surface of said box/compartments to allowwater/moisture to drain and evaporate; and, 2. for the device to beadjustable and versatile so as to accommodate most conventional letterbox/compartments, thus being economical both in the cost ofmanufacturing and in the selling price to the consumer.

The adjustable Melevator floor meets the two main objectives of thisinvention and these and other aspects, objects, features, and advantageswill be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of thefollowing detailed description of the invention and appended claims, andby reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the adjustable Melevator floor in itsfully contracted or closed state.

FIG. 2. is a perspective view of the adjustable Melevator floor in itsfully expanded or fully open state, with both end sections retained atthe stop-motion stop, retaining-lips of the main-section.

FIG. 3. is a larger scale perspective view of the main-section 10, minusthe front-end section 20, and the rear-end section 30.

FIG. 4. is a perspective view of the rear-end section 30.

FIG. 5. is a perspective view of the front-end section 20.

FIG. 6. is cut-away top view of a right and left front corner of twoMelevator units dovetailed together by circle tenon/mortise 61, 61.

FIG. 7. is a top view of two Melevator units dovetailed together for usein wider boxes/ compartments, indicating cut away area shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8. is a cut-away, cross-hatched sectional view of wedgetenon/mortise 71, 71, dovetailing.

FIG. 9. depicts a front elevation view of a regular size conventionalcity/rural, curb/road side, letter delivery box, minus its door, with aMelevator inside.

FIG. 9A. depicts a pictorial cut-out view of FIG. 9 showing afully-extended Melevator unit.

FIG. 10. depicts a front elevation view of a large size rural maildelivery box, minus its door, with two Melevator units inside.

FIG. 10A. depicts a pictorial cut-out view of FIG. 10 showing twofully-extended Melevator units.

FIG. 11. depicts a front elevation view of a typical regular sizecity/street, curb/road side, letter delivery box, minus its door, with aMelevator inside.

FIG. 12. depicts a front elevation view of a wide model curb/street sidedelivery box, minus its door, with two Melevator units inside.

FIG. 13. depicts a pictorial cut-out view of a NDCBU compartment, whichis typically smaller in length that a standard curb box, with apartially-extended Melevator inside.

FIG. 13A. depicts a front elevation view of a NDCBU, minus its doors,with a Melevator unit in the bottom-right compartment.

FIG. 14. depicts a pictorial cut-out view of a CBU compartment, which istypically smaller in length and height, but wider than a standard curbbox, with a partially-extended Melevator inside.

FIG. 14A. depicts a front elevation view of a CBU, minus its doors, withtwo Melevator units in the bottom-right compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable Melevator floor relates to the elevating of articles ofmail, such as letters, newspapers, magazines, and small packets from offthe interior surface floor of a letter delivery box/compartment. Theadjustable Melevator floor is sized and then inserted into the letterbox/compartment and rests on the interior surface floor, where it servesas a second floor for mail articles to rest on while allowing a distanceof space between the floors for unimpeded water drainage andventilation.

Reference FIGS. 1, 2. The floor device is to be constructed of moldedplastic so as to be cost effective and sturdy. It has three parts orsections: main section 10; front-end section 20; rear-end section 30.Referring to FIG. 1, the device at its smallest or in a smaller sizewill fit most cluster boxes or NDCBU compartments. Referring to FIG. 2,the device at its largest or in a mid-size size will fit most curbdelivery boxes, such as, street, city or rural.

Reference FIGS. 1, 2, 3. The main section 10 is the centerpiece of theunit. It is rectangle in shape with the width being approx. half thelength. A center support-wall 11, extending from side to side, dividesmirror-image end-sections 20, 30. A plural of prongs 12, extend fromboth sides of the center-wall 11, and rest on a half-wall 13, that alsoserves as a stop-motion stop/retaining lip 13, for the two end-sections.The tip ends of the prongs 14, are slightly lower in height for a shortdistance to allow their entrance under the label cap area 34, 24. Theoutermost prongs of both outer sides have a plurality of concave holes15, spaced at intervals along their entirety. The prongs are raised,jutting out from the center support-wall 11, and span over ventilationspace 16.

Reference FIGS. 2, 4. The rear-end section 30, has a partial end-wall31, with cutout ventilation space 51, between two solid corner supports32. It is approx. square in shape and slightly wider than themain-section 10. A plural of prongs 33, extend out from one side of theend-wall 31, and out from underneath a label cap area 34. These prongs33, are raised, providing ventilation space 52, and rest on support legs35, with the outermost prongs having thicker support legs 36, 38, atboth ends. The outermost prong endings 36, have a plural of protuberance37, on the inside surface of each said end-supporting prong 36. Theseprotuberance 37, correspond with the plurality of concave holes 15, inthe main-section 10. The solid portion 38, of the outermost prongs,right-angled beneath the label cap area 34, and right-angled to theend-wall 31, has a plurality of tenon/mortise 39, on the outside surfacewith alternating mortise/tenon 39, on the opposite outer side. Theextended prongs 33, of the rear-end section 30, are inserted between theprongs 12, of the main-section 10, with the outermost prongs of therear-end section 30, enclosing the outermost prongs of the main-section10, and with protuberance 37, matching corresponding holes 15, therear-end section “snaps” into place, thus becoming a movable butattached part of the unit.

Other than the alternating tenon/mortise 39, the rear-end section 30,mirror-images the front-end section 20.

Reference FIGS. 2, 5. The front-end section 20, has a partial end-wall21, with cutout ventilation space 41, between two solid corner supports22. It is approx. square in shape and slightly wider than the mainsection 10. A plural of prongs 23, extend out from one side of theend-wall 21, and out from underneath a label cap area 24. These prongs23, are raised, providing ventilation space 42, and rest on support legs25, with the outermost prongs having thicker support legs 26, 28, atboth ends. The outermost prong endings 26, have a plural of protuberance27, on the inside surface of each said end-supporting prong 26. Theseprotuberance 27, correspond with the plurality of concave holes 15, inthe main section 10. The solid portion 28, of the outermost prongs,right-angled beneath the label cap area 24, and right-angled to theend-wall 21, has a plurality of tenon/mortise 29, on the outside surfacewith alternating mortise/tenon 29, on the opposite outer side. Theextended prongs 23, of the front-end section 20, are inserted betweenthe prongs 12, of the main section 10, with the outermost prongs of thefront-end section 20, enclosing the outermost prongs of the main-section10, and with protuberance 27, matching corresponding holes 15, thefront-end section “snaps” into place, thus becoming a movable butattached part of the unit.

These three parts form one adjustable device having tenon/mortise forconnecting two or more units together. The dovetailing tenon/mortise canbe made in several types, with circle 61, and wedge 71, depicted inFIGS. 6, 7, 8.

The adjustable Melevator floor is new in that is the only device thatdirectly addresses an old problem of moisture within letter/mail boxesand new in that it is designed for universal use in various city, curb,street, rural, cluster, and NDCBU letter box/compartments. ReferenceFIG. 9-14A.

The adjustable Melevator floor is convenient and useful in that isdesigned to meet a specific need and it serves that need better than acut board or slab of foam that is often utilized for the purpose.

The adjustable Melevator floor is unobtrusive to the delivery spacewithin the box/compartments and has a label area at each end for use,both by the delivery person and by the owner.

The adjustable Melevator floor is easy to size. Each end has incrementalsettings and each end can be adjusted separately as needed. By measuringthe depth of the box/compartment, the floor can be sized to fit and theneasily installed by inserting it into the box/compartment.

While the invention has been described with particular detail andreference to its specified use and design as stated above, certainaspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details ofthe examples illustrated, and it is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art.For instance, while the invention can be molded of plastic, wood ormetal or Styrofoam could also be used; modification as to size could bedone, both in its ventilation openings or absence thereof, and in itsparts size or absence thereof, and in its overall size limits as set byits designed use. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations tothe exact abstract or detailed description herein presented.

1. three-part universal floor insert for use in box/compartments,comprising: a main-section part having two sets of extending prongs,reversely arranged and spanning from the center-wall, that are congruentwithin two wider end-sections; a rear-end section part having one set ofextending prongs, spanning from the section end support-wall, that iscongruent with corresponding prongs of the main-section; a front-endsection part having one set of extending prongs, spanning from thesection end support-wall, that is congruent with corresponding prongs ofthe main-section.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, saidparts define corresponding parts and both of the end-sections can bemoved, independently and in increments, away from the center of themain-section, so as to enlarge the device.
 3. A device as set forth inclaim 2, wherein, both outer sides of the main-section define aplurality of concave holes congruous with plural protuberances on theinside surface of the outer prongs of the two end-sections, so as toallow adjustment and setting in size when either end is pulled outwardfrom the main-section.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein, themain-section defines a support-wall/retaining-lip across each end thatprovides support to the end tips of the plurality of prongs spanned fromthe center support-wall and also, that serves as a stop-motion stop forthe corresponding prongs of the two end-sections.
 5. A device as setforth in claim 4, wherein, the main-section prongs define a decrease inheight at the extended ends, so that said prongs will clear and slideunder the label cap area of each end section.
 6. A device as set forthin claim 5, wherein, the main-section defines a plurality of prongs thatreversely jut out from both sides of the center support-wall and span tothe support wall/retaining lip across each end of said main-section, soas to provide openings for air ventilation.
 7. A device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein, the rear-end section defines a plurality ofprotuberance on the inside surface of the outermost prongs, in the areaof the thick supports for the prong-tips, and said protuberancecongruous with the corresponding concave holes of the main-section, soas to allow adjustment and setting in size when said rear-end section ispulled outward from the main-section.
 8. A device as set forth in claim7, wherein, the rear-end section defines an end-wall with cutout andsaid end-wall having a plural of prongs jutting out and then spanning tosupports and corner supports, so as to provide openings for airventilation.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein, the rear-endsection defines a solid cap area over a plural of prongs jutting outfrom the end-wall, and said cap area being a flat surface extendingacross the section end, so as to allow label attachment.
 10. A device asset forth in claim 9, wherein, the rear-end section defines a plural oftenons/mortise placed on the outer side of the outermost prongs andbelow the label cap area and a plural of mortise\tenons placed on thecorresponding side of said section, so as to allow tenon or dovetailingof two such end-sections, further allowing two units to be connectedtogether.
 11. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, the front-endsection defines a plural of protuberance on the inside surface of theoutermost prongs, in the area of the thick supports for the prong tips,and said protuberance congruous with the corresponding concave holes ofthe main-section, so as to allow adjustment and setting in size whensaid front-end section is pulled outward from the main-section.
 12. Adevice as set forth in claim 11, wherein, the front-end section definesan end-wall with cutout and said end-wall having a plural of prongsjutting out and then spanning to supports and corner supports, so as toprovide openings for air ventilation.
 13. A device as set forth in claim12, wherein, the front-end section defines a solid cap area over aplural of prongs jutting out from the end-wall, and said cap area beinga flat surface extending across the section end, so as to allow labelattachment.
 14. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein, thefront-end section defines a plural of tenons/mortise placed on the outerside of the outermost prongs and below the label cap area and a pluralof mortise/tenons placed on the corresponding side of said section, soas to allow tenon or dovetailing of two such end sections, furtherallowing two units to be connected together.
 15. A device as set forthin claims 1, wherein, the device is made of molded plastic.
 16. A deviceas set forth in claims 1-15, wherein, the device defines a limit to itsparts and dimensions by being specified for one purpose while the designof the device is not limited by parts or dimensions and can remainconstant if changed in parts or dimension.
 17. A device as set forth inclaims 1-16, wherein, the device defines a design that will keep itsintegrity if manufactured to expand sideways for width, as well as toexpand lengthwise as stated.
 18. An adjustable Melevator floor as setforth in claims 1-17, wherein, the device defines usefulness in itsdesign for a variety of uses beyond the scope of the objectives statedand the size limitations demanded in order to reach those objectives andthe parts required to achieve those limitations.